Electric contact device.



E. W. VOGEL ELECTRIC CONTACT DE-VJCE,

APPLICATION mm JUNE 5,19%

Patented Jui 24, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

s u S M n W [NI EN TOR.

E. W. VOGEL.

ELEETRRC CONTACT DEVICE.

APPUCATION man JUNE 5.1914.

mwq gwfl Patented July 24,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

E. W. VOGEL.

ELECTRIC CONTACT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE5. 1914.

MWQWWW- PatentedJuly 24,1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET '3- IV] TN [555 15 S E STATES FTQ.

EUGENE W. VOG'EIJ, OF OAK PARK,

ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR TO CHICAGO RAILWAY SIGNAL ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC CONTACT DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24%, 1917..

Application filed .Tune 5, 1914. Serial No. 843,225.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE W. a citizen of the Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Contact Devices, of which the following is a speciii cation.

My invention relates to electric contact devices and particularly to the type of electric contact devices adapted for use in connection with electrically operated railways of the overhead trolley type.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved contact device for closing a circuit by the instrumentality of the trolley wheel, which device will be more durable and more certain and reliable in its operation than the devices of this class heretofore used, which may be readily installed. on the trolley wire at any desired point and is adjustable so as to accommodate it for trolley wheels of clifferent sizes and contours.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide certain novel constructions in devices of this character, whereby said device may be used to an advantage in connection with double or single track railway signaling systems for closing circuits for automatically operated devices ordinarily used in such signaling systems.

The invention has for further objects such other new and improved arrangements, constructions and devices relating to electric contact devices, and particularly to electric contact devices for trolley roads, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated, in certain preferred embodiments, in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a plan view of a contact or circuit closing device constituting one of the important features ,of the invention; the housing of the device being broken away to show its interior construction;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, with parts of the housing broken away, of the same device.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same showing the trolley wheel in section.

Fig. 4; is a sectional view taken on line 4.- l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

VOGEL,

United States, residing at.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional plan on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a double contact device adapted for use in connection with a single track system, and

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of this device with parts of the housing broken away.

ike characters of reference designate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the device consists of a plurality of flexible contact elements 10 which are supported in spaced relation with each other and extend in alternate arrangement on opposite sides of the trolley wire so that they yield or are swept back by the trolley wheel 11. The elements 10 are preferably formed at their upper ends with slots 12 and supported at this point on a rod 13 anchored in end castings 14. The latter are formed with bracket projections 15 through openings in which are arranged adjusting screws 16 supporting insulators 17 to which the trolley wire B is secured. The contact elements 10 are preferably angular in form, as shown, and perforated at the\ angular portions for rods 18 which are anchored at opposite ends in angular slides 19 mounted in undercut slideways 20 on the end castings 14:. The slides at each end of the device are united by an adjusting screw 21 having'reversed threads and a knurled head 22 which extends between a pair of lugs 23 formed on the end casting. The end casting is formed with slots to permit the rods 18 to be adjusted laterally. The ad justing screw may be provided with set nuts 24. The adjusting screws 16 may also be positioned by set nuts 25. The purpose of making the rods 18 adjustable is to vary the spread of the contact elements 11 to accommodate the device for trolley wheels of dif ferent size and contour.

The contact elements are preferably covcred by a housing 26. The rods 13, 18 pass through a central supporting plate 27 to which is secured, outside of the housing, a saddle plate 28 having thereon a binding post 29 to which the line Wire of the circuit to be closed may be attached, and an insulating hanger 30 by means of which the device may be supported from the usual cross wire by means of which the trolley wire is ordinarily sustained. To apply the contact device just described to the trolley Wire it is arrangements and spacing the uppenends of the contact elements on the rod 13.

In Figs. 7 to 8 I have shown the invention modified so as to be particularly adapted for closing circuits for operating automatic signals or the like for single track electric roads. In these figures l have shown two contact devices structurally united, though insulated one from the other so as to be electrically separate. Either of considered separately are substantially the same in construction as the contact devices above described, except that thetrolley wire supports are omitted at the adjacent endsof the devices, and the saddle plates 36, which are provided with separate bindingposts 37, are unitedby the cross arm 38 of a hanger 39 insulators 4C0 being interposed between the hanger and the saddle plates. Bolts 41 pass through the insulators a0 and into supporting plates 42 interposed between the contact elements 10. The arrangement of the contact elements is preferably the same as that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive. In operation the perimeter of the trolley wheel 11 strikes the lower edge of the spring contact members 10. The members yield in the direction of the length of the trolley wire indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, as the trolley wheel traverses the device. The engagement of the trolley wheel with the trolley wire and the spring members 10 in effect connects the l'mewire (not shown) leading from the binding post 29 with the trolley wire} In the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8 thetrolley wire is connected with two separate line wires (not shown) adapted to be connected to binding posts 37. The operative effect of one oi? such connections by means of other instrumentalities ordinarily used in connection with single track signal systems (not shown) is arrested so that only one of such connections is rendered efiective.

YVhile I have described my invention in certain preferred embodiments, modifications might be made without departure from the principles of the invention. Therefore, I do not wish to be understood as limiting the invention to the particular constructions, devices shown and de scribed except so far as they are made limitations specifically in certain of the claims herein.

1 claim: p

1. A contact device adapted to be arranged adjacent a trolley wire to coti 'aerate with a trolley wheel. for closing an electric circuit comprising a plurality of elastic contact elements which are arranged substantially vertrolley these devices v relation adjacent said trolley wire so as to be engaged by the trolley wheel.

2. A. contact device adapted to be arranged adjacent a trolley wire to cooperate with a wheel for closing an electric circuit comprising a plurality of contact elements arranged substantially sides of a trolley wire which are yieldable 1n the direction of the length of the trolley wire, means for supporting the same in spaced relation adjacent said trolley wire so as to be engaged by the trolley wheel, and means at each end oi said supporting means for sustaining said trolley wire.

3. A contact device adapted to be arranged adjacent a trolley wire to cooperate with a trolley wheel for closing an electric circuit comprising a plurality oi contact elements which are yieldable in the direction of the length of the said trolley wire so asto be engaged by the trolley wheel, and adjustable devices at each end of said supporting means for sustaining the trolley wire and for varying the position of said contact elements with respect thereto.

4:. A. contact device adapted to be arranged adjacent a trolley wire to" cooperate with a trolley wheel for closing an electric circuit comprising a plurality of contact elements which are yieldable in the direction of the length of the trolley wire, means for supporting the same in spaced relation adjacent said trolley wire so as to be engaged by the perimeter of the trolley wheel, and means for adjusting said contact elements on said supporting means so as to adapt the device for trolley wheels of diiierent contours.

5. A contact device'adapted to be arranged adjacent a trolley wire to cooperate with a trolley wheel for closing an electric circuit comprising two sets of elastic contact ele" ments which are yieldable in the direction of the length of the trolley wire, and means for supporting the same in spaced relation on opposite to be engaged by the trolley wheel, said contact elements being adjustable with respect to said supporting means so as to vary the lateral spread of the same.

6'. A contact device adapted to be arranged adjacent a trolley wire to cooperate with a trolley wheel for closing an electric circuit comprising two sets of elastic contact elements which are yieldable in the direction ofthe length of the trolley wire, means for supporting the same in spaced relation on opposite sides of said trolley wire so as to be engaged by the trolley wheel, said contact elements being adjustable with respect to said supporting means so. as to vary the lateral spread of the same, and devices on said vertical on opposite trolley wire, means for sup-' portlng the same in spaced relation ad acentsides of said trolley wire so as supporting means for sustaining the trolley wire, which devices have capacity for vertical adjustment.

7. A contact device adapted to be arranged adjacent a trolley wire to cooperate with a trolley wheel for closing an electric circuit comprising an upper supporting rod, a pair of lower rods spaced apart, and a plurality of yieldable contact elements arranged on said rods so that they stand on opposite sides of the trolley wire.

8. A contact device adapted to be arranged adjacent a trolley wire to cooperate with a trolley wheel for closing an electric circuit comprising an upper supporting rod, a pair of lower rods spaced apart, and a plurality of yieldable contact elements arranged on said rods so that they stand on opposite sides of the trolley wire, the lower rods being adjustable so as to vary the spread of said contact elements.

9. A contact device adapted to be arranged adjacent a trolley wire to cooperate with a trolley wheel for closing an electric circuit comprising an upper supporting rod, a pair oi. lower rods spaced apart, a plurality of yieldable contact elements arranged on said rods so that they stand on opposite sides of the trolley wire, and means associated with said rods for sustaining the trolley wire.

10. A contact device adapted to be arranged adjacent a trolley wire to cooperate with a trolley wheel for closing an electric circuit comprising an upper supporting rod, a pair of lower rods spaced apart, a plurality of yieldable contact elements arranged on said rods so that they stand on opposite sides of the trolley wire, the lower rods be ing ad ustable so as to vary the spread of said contact elements, and devices associated with said rods and capable of vertical adjustment for sustaining said trolley wire.

11. A contact device adapted to be arranged adjacent a trolley wire to cooperate with a trolley wheel for closing an electric circuit comprising end supports provided with means for sustaining the trolley wire, an upper rod anchored at opposite ends to said supports, a pair of lower rods connected with said supports so as to be capable of lateral adjustment, and a plurality of yieldable contact elements on said rods.

12. A contact device adapted to be arranged adjacent a trolley wire to cooperate with a trolley wheel. for closing an electric circuit comprising end supports provided with means for sustaining the trolley wire, an upper rod anchored at opposite ends to said supports, horizontally movable slides on said supports below said rods, rods connected to said slides, means for adjusting Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the the position of said slides, and a plurality of elastic contact elements on said rods.

18. A contact device adapted to be arranged adjacent a trolley wire to cooperate with a trolley wheel for closing an electric circuit comprising an upper supporting rod, a pair of lower supporting rods adjustable to and from each other, and a plurality of elastic contact elements the upper ends of which are supported on said upper rod, the alternate elements being engaged by the lower rods.

14. A contact device adapted to be arranged adjacent a trolley wire to cooperate with a trolley wheel for closing an electric circuit comprising an upper supporting rod, a pair of lower supporting rods adjustable to and from each other, a plurality of elastic contact elements, the upper ends of which are supported on said upper rod, the alternate elements being engaged by the lower rods, and spacers on said lower rods between adjacent contact elements.

15. A contact device adapted to be arranged adjacent a trolley wire to cooperate with a trolley wheel for closing an electric circuit comprising end supports, vertically adjustable devices on said end supports for sustaining the trolley wire, an upper rod anchored at opposite ends to said end supports, a pair of slides on each end support, means for adjusting the position of the slides on said support, a pair of rods secured to corresponding slides at opposite ends of the device, a plurality of elastic contact elements angular in form and perforated at their upper ends so as to be sustained on said upper rod, alternate contact elements being secured adjacent the angular bends to the rods carried by said slides, a housing connected to said end supports and covering said contact elements, a saddle plate on the housing, and a hanger and a binding post on said addle plate.

16. A contact device adapted to be arranged adjacent a trolley wire, comprising a frame secured to the trolley wire, contact members carried on said frame, and separate means for adjusting said contact members with respect to the trolley wire.

17. A contact device adapted to be arranged adjacent a trolley wire, comprising a frame secured to the trolley wire, contact members, carried on said frame, and separate means for effecting a vertical and lateral adjustment of said contact members with respect to the trolley wire.

EUGENE W. VOGEL. lVitnesses:

L. A. FALKENBERG, R. KUEHN.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

